Multimodal assessment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with transmission-reflection optoacoustic ultrasound

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an umbrella term referring to a group of conditions associated to fat deposition and damage of liver tissue. Early detection of fat accumulation is essential to avoid progression of NAFLD to serious pathological stages such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: We exploited the unique capabilities of transmission-reflection optoacoustic ultrasound (TROPUS), which combines the advantages of optical and acoustic contrasts, for an early-stage multi-parametric assessment of NAFLD in mice. Results: The multispectral optoacoustic imaging allowed for spectroscopic differentiation of lipid content, as well as the bio-distributions of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin in liver tissues in vivo. The pulse-echo (reflection) ultrasound (US) imaging further provided a valuable anatomical reference whilst transmission US facilitated the mapping of speed of sound changes in lipid-rich regions, which was consistent with the presence of macrovesicular hepatic steatosis in the NAFLD livers examined with ex vivo histological staining. Conclusion: The proposed multimodal approach facilitates quantification of liver abnormalities at early stages using a variety of optical and acoustic contrasts, laying the ground for translating the TROPUS approach toward diagnosis and monitoring NAFLD in patients.